Moosdorf Returns to Russia for Cultural Talks

AfD Bundestag member and cellist Matthias Moosdorf traveled to Moscow in early March, where he reportedly met with Anton Kobyakov, a senior foreign policy advisor to President Vladimir Putin. According to t-online, the meeting focused on organizing the 2027 World Choir Games, an international choral festival set to take place in Russia.

The event is backed by Russia’s Foreign Ministry and the state-run Roscongress Foundation. As t-online reports, President Putin may attend the festival in person—unlike in 2016, when he only sent a written greeting for the Games in Sochi.

Moosdorf, a professional musician, has a long history of ties with Russia. He previously held a guest professorship at the Kremlin-aligned Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow and has performed in concerts funded by Russian state institutions.

The planned festival could bring economic benefits to Russia, but it may also serve a broader purpose: softening the country’s international isolation through cultural diplomacy. Whether Putin will appear at the 2027 Games remains uncertain, but the event is already being closely watched for its political implications.